The Shishito Peppers #16

🌿 This goofy pair were introduced to East Asia by Portuguese explorers in the 1500s. From there, peppers became widely cultivated in Japan, with desirable traits being selectively bred over planting generations. Today, shishitos are widely grown in Japan, as well as in Europe and the United States. 🏯 🌿 A crazy fact about shishito peppers is that despite being mostly mild, about 1 in 10 peppers will have a surprising kick of spice, making them a bit like "pepper roulette" due to their inconsistent heat level; this is because the name "shishito" comes from the Japanese word "shishi" which means "lion," and some say the peppers' wrinkled tip resembles a lion's head. 🦁 🌿 FRESH FACTS: It's the Japanese cousin to the more well-known padrón pepper. Like padróns, shishitos are mild, but compared to its Spanish counterpart, there's an even smaller chance of coming across a spicy one. 🥵🌶️